Irish Party solid in Hawkeyes

The lone 3-year-old entered in Saturday night's $70,000 Hawkeyes Handicap, Irish Party, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite for the 1 1/16-mile race for Iowa-bred fillies and mares at Prairie Meadows.

Irish Party, trained by Kelly Von Hemel, already has two stakes wins at this meet and is coming off a second-place finish in the $50,000 Panthers Stakes on June 9. That was her first try at two turns, and she should benefit from that experience here. Irish Party should be sitting right off the early pace under jockey Richard Monterrey.

Elite Lady is coming into the Hawkeyes off a second to multiple stakes winner Plaid last time out in the $50,000 Wild Rose. A stakes winner last year here at two turns for trainer Dick Clark, Elite Lady hasn't won in 2007 but shouldn't be overlooked after her last effort.

Camela Carson, a separate Von Hemel entrant, will be making her third start of the year after a solid second-place run in the $65,000 Mamie Eisenhower on May 12. Camela Carson finished second in the Hawkeyes last year, and has been getting better with each start this year. Perry Compton will be back riding Camela Carson.

Thekatcamehome, Dixie Kate, and R Bridge It round out the field.